This was Ben's first ever attempt at playing Badminton. By the end of the session he was pleased to be able to hit a selection of serves and returns.

By pure chance, the different group of riders on this week's ride chose a similar route to last week's ride, but there were a few differences. There was a different cafe - more rustic, upmarket and expensive than last week's, with an excellent range of home-baked cakes. We took the road route around the track that caused all the punctures last week, thereby avoiding any delays at all. We detoured home through Broadhempston rather than Staverton. And, because there were no punctures, we got home by just after 1pm.

All in all this was an exhilarating ride, made all the more enjoyable by the welcome return of Tao to our ranks after an absences of several months. There was more talk of possible destinations for the summer tour - check out our web site for the latest information!

James and Tommy battled against Ryan and Ben for first place in this fast and furious music quiz. With chocolate bar prizes for the winners of each round there was frantic guessing for the names of every disguised film theme, game tune or TV theme that was played by the PC. At the end of the evening, scores were level pegging at two rounds each, and Michael was amazed just how many songs the youngsters seemed to know!

After last week's longer ride Michael decided on a shorter excursion this week, either to Ashburton or South Brent. Oliver, of course, had different ideas, and managed to persuade us to climb all the way up Wallaford Road for the prospect of a moorland ride to Chalk Ford. Ben worked hard for more than half an hour to get there, spurred on by the thought of off-road down hilling to a moorland stream. On reaching the top, however, Oliver decided that (as Michael had said from the outset) the moor would be too wet for cycling!

We made the best of the situation by enjoying the downhill to Coombe and then returning home for 12.30.

Tommy and Ben found out just how hard it is to knock down 10 skittles without the lane barriers - but they both achieved some impressive strikes and spares, and will no doubt been even more formidable opponents on our next visit!

Two new pairs of gloves had to be purchased before we could make a start, and then Wajeeh had a puncture and decided to fix it at home. A brisk climb was essential this morning to get us warmed up, so we climbed Dean Hill and skirted around Harbourneford before enjoying the descent to South Brent. The cafe looked inviting, but we needed to keep moving in order to make it home by 1pm.

Descending to Avonwick we enjoyed the cobbled track that runs alongside the river Avon. Several of the youngsters were suffering a bit from the cold, so the main road served as a useful shortcut to Rattery. Here, a poultry show offered some comical entertainment before we tackled the final climb to Pennywell and home.

James and Tommy demonstrated their enthusiasm for badminton this evening by bringing their own racquets and playing at a much higher level than when we last saw them. Apparently they have been practicing at school!

Ben was pleasantly surprised by the significant lack of hills on this morning's excursion to the lanes behind Ashburton. He won 10 bonus points (!) for spotting the narrow mill house by the side of the lane, so he now only has to earn another 2190 points to get a free chocolate muffin!

We made good speed along the occasionally-muddy woodland track that runs alongside the river, then headed for Ashburton for a cafe stop. Unfortunately all the cafes in town were closed, so after bumping into Julian on Western Road we rode back to the Grange cafe at Buckfast to carry out an experiment on the relative sizes of their large and small mugs. The result: the contents of a large mug will just fit into a small mug!

Our special 2-hour cinema presentation this evening was the superb Mel Gibson Drama "The Man Without a Face". Since a tragic accident left him hideously scarred seven years ago, Justin McLeod has hidden away in his cliff-side retreat. Meanwhile the locals have delighted in painting him as a perverted mad man with a horrific past. Twelve-year-old Chuck Norstadt is also an outsider. Alienated from his family, he awaits the day he can go to a boarding school far from home - but he has to pass his entrance exam first. Then by accident, Chuck meets Justin McLeod. Instead of a horrible freak, Justin turns out to be the friend and tutor Chuck always needed. That Summer, in the inspiring tradition of "Dead Poets' Society", Chuck and Justin discover a friendship which enables them both to face the world that has for so long rejected them.

This was Daniel's first ride with us since last summer, but he was bubbling over with energy so we decided to aim for Fermoys restaurant just in case it proved an achievable target. Ben, who was now working towards his Stage 2 certificate, also had an eye on ticking off his 20-mile ride stage point.

Both boys rode well up the intimidating Caddaford Hill, through Staverton and on to Broadhempston. It was decision time, but the prospect of excellent cakes and drinks simply proved irresistible. After another hill that got both Daniel and Ben calling Michael names, we arrived at Fermoys by 11.45 and settled down in the sun-flooded garden to enjoy scones and freshly-squeezed orange juice.

Suitably refreshed we set off for the daunting return journey via Woodland and Ashburton, with both lads beginning to feel the pain. A few chocolate bars were required to coax them the last few miles, but they finally made it home by 2.30 having just achieved the target of 20 miles. This was not a ride that Daniel will forget.